THE ST. HILARY INSCRIBED STONE. 375 



Hunting about for bits of dykes and stonework, which the 

 Roman engineer would no more than one of to-day dream of 

 making on firm, well-drained ground, the antiquary failed to 

 notice the plain fact that the common highway bore the impress 

 of the Roman system. A good many scraps of the peculiar work 

 referred to have, however, been found, and others may yet be 

 discovered ;*' but they must always be insignificant by the side of 

 the great system of internal communication which, if my reason- 

 ing is sound, marked the complete, and, in many respects, 

 beneficent occupation of Cornwall by the Romans, the greatest 

 of administrative powers. 



* Dr. Borlase satisfied himself that he found various portions of Eoman road 

 between Lostwithiel and Liskeard, and between the former town and Fowey, 

 by Castle Dour, a fort most judiciously placed, and occupied as lately as the 

 Great Rebellion ; and I doubt not that he is generally correct, as to the 

 lines of way at any rate. Whether his opinion is equally well founded in assign- 

 ing to the Romans the great work, half road, half fortification, which extends 

 from Looe to Lerrin, a distance of seven miles, called the Giant's Hedge, may be 

 open to question. The minute examination and discriminating criticism of Mr. 

 McLauchlau (Report R. I. C, 1846) incline him to believe that the ground was 

 occupied, and the works chiefly constructed by some powerful Celtic tribe long 

 before the Romans visited the island. 



